(3) PS Illustrated by Kristen Balouch. Baby Polar ventures away from his mama to frolic in the falling snow, loses track of her when the snowstorm worsens, then enjoys a snuggly reunion. Preschoolers will relate to the cub's playful, independent spirit and simultaneous need for mommy comfort. The cool colors of the collage-style art set up a nice contrast to the warm story.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kristen Balouch. Hamilton and Weiss present a humorous retelling of an Indian folktale about a Bengali barber who must outwit a ghost to support his family and fellow villagers. Balouch's simply composed paintings comprising strong shapes show many of the townspeople in traditional clothing with some modern touches (e.g., hipster glasses on the barber, who also sports a stylish hairdo).

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 According to the publisher's note, these original stories contain motifs "reminiscent of folktale traditions found throughout the world" (purportedly Caribbean, Native American, and Celtic). Balouch's energetic illustrations are more captivating than the somewhat hackneyed stories, which concern a test of endurance between a headstrong boy and a witch, three boys' vision quest and lesson about greed, and the triumph of springtime (a girl) over winter (her brother).

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn